Work station with magnetic tool retention apparatus

ABSTRACT

The Tool Retaining Work Station makes use of at least one magnet installed on a side or along the edge of the top surface of the work station. The objective of the magnets being located on or near the edge of the top surface of the work station is to ensure that the tools/parts are convenient for the professional to access, positioned to catch tools/parts before they fall off the top of the work station, and to prevent the professional from potentially losing control or sight over the procedure at hand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to any type of work station and, in particular,to a work station which is equipped with magnetic elements to ensureretention of metal tools/parts on the top surface of the work stationwhen the tools/parts are not in use. An example of such a work stationis an animal grooming station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A professional who requires the use of a work station as a work surfaceand also to store tools/parts as they perform their job requires aneffective means of protecting their tools/parts while maintaining easyaccess to the tools and parts to ensure time efficiency. An example ofsuch a professional is an animal groomer who would benefit from agrooming station which allows the groomer to place a tool anywherearound the perimeter of the work station while the work station providesprotection to the tools by preventing the tools from falling onto theground and being damaged by the impact while allowing the groomer tomaintain mobility around the work station. For further explanation, whenan animal is being groomed, the work station is elevated to position theanimal at a height convenient for the animal groomer. These animalstypically are dogs, and the animal groomer must perform a number ofsuccessive grooming operations on the animal during the course of thegrooming. The animal typically is not restrained by attachment to thework station, and the animal groomer must be able to freely move aroundthe animal grooming station, maintain the animal in the desiredposition, and have access to a number of different grooming tools, whichtypically are placed on the top surface of the animal grooming stationfor easy access. Once more, the grooming station is merely one exampleof the variety of work stations that could be utilized; therefore, thefollowing description is not limited to only animal grooming use.

The animal groomer uses a variety of grooming tools during the course ofgrooming the animal. An example of these tools includes: brushes,scissors, combs, razors, clippers, and the like. These tools areprofessional grade, precision instruments which represent a significantinvestment on the part of the animal groomer. These tools, while beingprofessional grade, are still susceptible to damage if they are droppedonto a hard surface, such as the floor. Yet again, the work station canhold a variety of occupational tools used for many different purposes.

For sanitary reasons and ease of cleanup, animal grooming facilities aretypically constructed with tile, concrete, wood, or other hard surfacefloors. If the animal groomer drops a tool onto the floor or an animalbeing groomed knocks a tool onto the floor, it is common for the tool tobe damaged or even rendered unusable. The damage can constitute a brokentip or chipped edge on a pair of scissors, broken teeth on a comb, etc.In any profession or hobby, it is imperative that tools/parts functionproperly and are easily accessible.

Past attempts to address this problem in work stations have beenineffective. These solutions include Caddies or Storage Units, which areinefficient since they are stationary, or too bulky to mobilize. Forinstance, animal groomers tend to have very limited space in which towork, and the placement of a tool caddy in the work area interferes withthe animal groomer's ability to groom the animal. Another proposedsolution is the use of Grooming Tool Aprons/Belts. However, the need foran animal groomer to wear a tool apron or a tool belt impedes the animalgroomer's performance and is burdensome to wear. Furthermore, toolscontinue to fall out of a belt or the pockets of an apron when theanimal groomer bends over or struggles with an animal during thegrooming process. The belts and aprons also are not sanitary, sinceanimal hair accumulates inside the apron/belt pockets. Ultimately, thereis a strong need for an effective and efficient solution for any varietyof work stations entailing the protection of tools/parts, while allowingthe professional to be mobile.

Therefore, there is presently no product which adequately addresses theproblem of work station tools being dropped onto a hard surface, such asthe floor, during the work process, such as with animal groomingstations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-described problems are solved and a technical advance made inthis field by the present Work Station With Magnetic Tool RetentionApparatus (termed “Tool Retaining Work Station” herein) which isequipped with magnetic elements to ensure retention of tools on the ToolRetaining Work Station when tools are not in use (see examples in FIGS.1A and 1B).

The Tool Retaining Work Station makes use of at least one magnetinstalled on a side or along the edge of the top surface of the ToolRetaining Work Station. The objective of the magnets being located on ornear the edge of the top surface of the Tool Retaining Work Station isto ensure that the metal tools/parts are convenient for the professionalto access, positioned to catch tools before they fall off the topsurface of the Tool Retaining Work Station, and prevent the professionalfrom potentially losing control or sight over the procedure at hand (seeexample in FIG. 1C).

In order to be effective, the magnets are of sufficient magnetic fieldstrength to hold a variety of metal tools/parts that are placed thereonand are located in sufficient proximity to each other to prevent themetal tools/parts from being knocked off the Tool Retaining Work Stationwithout being captured by the magnets. Therefore, the field strength andlocation of the magnets must be sufficient to capture a metal tool/partif, during the work process, metal tools/parts are propelled toward theedge of the top surface of the Tool Retaining Work Station. In addition,the metal tools/parts obviously must be manufactured from materials thatare susceptible to being captured by a magnet or must have attachedthereto a metal plate which enables the tools/parts to be captured bythe magnets (see examples in FIGS. 2A-2E).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate, in perspective view, three implementations ofthe present Tool Retaining Work Station; and

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate, in perspective view, examples of typicalnon-metallic grooming tools which are equipped with metal attachments toprovide a solution for any type of non-metallic tool for anyprofessional purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Professionals know that tools/parts are frequently knocked off theirwork stations onto hard surfaced floors during the work process. As aresult, the professional must stop the work process to retrieve thetools/parts and potentially lose control or sight over the procedure athand. This is an inefficient process and costly for the professional interms of lost time and potential for damage or loss to the tools/parts.For instance, animal grooming is an occupation where the animalgroomer's compensation is a function of the rapid processing of eachanimal; any interruption of this process represents a loss of income. Afurther loss of income occurs if the animal groomer drops a tool on thefloor or an animal being groomed knocks a tool onto the floor, and thegrooming tool is damaged or even rendered unusable, resulting in thecost of replacing or repair of the damaged grooming tool.

Magnetic Work Station Architecture

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate, in perspective view, three implementations ofthe present Tool Retaining Work Station. As shown in FIG. 1A, there is aplurality of magnets 101-1 to 101-n installed along the edges of the topsurface 102 of the work station 100 in a spaced-apart manner to providea substantially continuous magnetic barrier along the periphery of thework station 100 to prevent tools/parts from being knocked off the topsurface 102 of the work station 100. The plurality of magnets 101-1 to101-n alternatively can be a long, continuous magnetic strip. Themagnets 101-1 to 101-n can be placed in various configurations, such asalong less than all edges of the top surface 102 of the work station100. However, providing a substantially continuous magnetic barrieraround the periphery of the top surface 102 of the work station 100 ispreferable, since professionals typically must have protection on allfour sides of the work station 100 to prevent tools/parts from beingpropelled in any direction, and to prevent a loss of time and possibledifficulty in completing the work task at hand.

As shown in FIG. 1B, there is a plurality of magnets 201-1 to 201-ninstalled along the edges of the top surface 201 of the work station 200in a spaced-apart manner to provide a substantially continuous magneticbarrier along the periphery of the work station 200 to preventtools/parts from being knocked off the top surface 202 of the workstation 200. The plurality of magnets 201-1 to 201-n alternatively canbe a long, continuous magnetic strip. The magnets 201-1 to 201-n can beplaced in various configurations, such as along less than all edges ofthe top surface 202 of the work station 200. However, providing asubstantially continuous magnetic barrier around the periphery of thetop surface 202 of the work station 200 is preferable, sinceprofessionals typically must have protection on all four sides of thework station 200 to prevent tools/parts from being propelled in anydirection, and to prevent a loss of time and possible difficulty incompleting the work task at hand.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1C, a mix of magnets 301-1 to 301-ninstalled on the top surface 302 of the work station 300 along theedges, and magnets 311-1 to 311-n installed along the edges of the topsurface 302 work station 300 can be used to enable the professional toaffix tools/parts to the magnets 311-1 to 311-n installed along theedges of the work station, thereby keeping the top surface 302 of thework station 300 clear, while the magnets 301-1 to 301-n installed onthe top surface 302 along the edges of the work station 300 function toprovide the substantially continuous magnetic barrier to capture thetools/parts if they are propelled toward the edge of the top surface 302of the work station 300, and to prevent a loss of time and possibledifficulty in completing the work task at hand.

Non-Metallic Tools

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate, in perspective view, examples of typicalnon-metallic grooming tools which are equipped with metal attachments toprovide a solution for any type of non-metallic tool for anyprofessional purpose.

There are essentially two classes of tools: those manufactured, at leastin part, of metal and those manufactured from non-metallic materials.Depending on the magnetic quality of metal in a tool, there may be aneed to supplement the existing metal content to enable thesubstantially continuous magnetic barrier to capture the tool.Therefore, a metal strip or plate 402-442 can be attached (typically viaan adhesive backing on the metal plate) to the tool 401-441 to enable itto be captured by the substantially continuous magnetic barrier. Forexample, FIGS. 2A-2E show typical grooming tools including, but notlimited to, a pin brush 401, furminator 411, shedding slicker 421,poodle comb 431, and rubber brush 441, respectively, and the placementof a metal plate 402-442, respectively, on each of these tools asdescribed above, or incorporated into the grooming tool as part of themanufacturing of the grooming tool, or in the instance of any variety ofprofessional non-metallic tool.

Magnets

There are numerous implementations of magnets that can be used in theconstruction of the Tool Retaining Work Station. Magnets are formed intostrips or blocks or discs or other configurations. These magnets can bepermanent magnets or electromagnets, which can be powered from a sourceof electricity, such as that used to power the grooming tools used bythe professional. The magnet, therefore, can be any form of magnet whichproduces a magnetic field of sufficient field strength which enablesprofessionals to freely stick tools/parts to the edge of the workstation for easy access while working. Also, the magnets can provide arelatively low profile in the case that the magnets are attached to thetop surface of the work station, which also provides a physical barrierto the tools/parts being knocked off the work station in addition to themagnetic barrier created by the magnets. Work station implementationswill vary as a result of the numerous configurations possible, dependingon the size, shape, and magnetic strength of the magnets. The example ofanimal grooming stations is used herein simply for the purpose ofillustrating the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention as characterized in the claims appended herein. Yet anotherbenefit is that the magnetic edging is easy to clean, since itrepresents a non-porous/non-sticking surface, and the coating on thepermanent magnet is typically Nickel Plate, and electromagnets havesimilar surfaces or coatings applied thereto.

Economics

The cost of magnets is offset by the economic benefit provided by theprofessional not having to replace or fix broken tools/parts which aredamaged in the impact from falling onto the floor and also prevents theloss of time in retrieving tools/parts that have fallen onto the floor.For example, the following chart is a breakdown of typical costs ofgrooming tools/parts and repairs listed below:

New Clippers New Blades New Scissors $100.00-$300.00 $12.00-$50.00$25.00-$150.00

Sharpen Blades Sharpen Scissors $5.00-$8.00 per blade $5.00-$10.00 perpair of scissors Animal groomer typically Animal groomer typically owns5-10 blades owns 3-6 pairs of scissors

SUMMARY

The Tool Retaining Work Station makes use of at least one magnetinstalled on a side or along the edge of the top surface of the workstation. The objective of the magnets being located on or near the edgeof the top surface of the work station is to ensure that the tools/partsare convenient for the professional to access, positioned to catchtools/parts before they fall off the top of the work station, andprevent the professional from potentially losing control or sight overthe procedure at hand.

1. A Tool Retaining Work Station comprising: a work surface having asubstantially flat and unobstructed top surface thereof to support anobject on the top surface during a work process being performed by auser using tools on the object which work process takes place on theobject which is positioned on the top surface; and a substantiallycontinuous magnetic barrier formed exclusively along the periphery ofthe work surface to prevent at least one of the tools that is notpresently in use by the user from being knocked off the top surface,comprising at least one magnet fixedly attached to said work surface ata location comprising at least one of: on top of said substantially flattop surface and along an edge of said substantially flat top surface,and on a side of said substantially flat top surface and juxtaposed tothe top of said substantially flat top surface.
 2. The Tool RetainingWork Station of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuous magneticbarrier comprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apartrelationship, positioned along at least one edge of said substantiallyflat top surface.
 3. The Tool Retaining Work Station of claim 1 whereinsaid substantially continuous magnetic barrier comprises: a plurality ofmagnets, aligned in a spaced-apart relationship, positioned along all ofthe edges of said substantially flat top surface.
 4. The Tool RetainingWork Station of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuous magneticbarrier comprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apartrelationship, on top of said substantially flat top surface along atleast one edge of said substantially flat top surface.
 5. The ToolRetaining Work Station of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuousmagnetic barrier comprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in aspaced-apart relationship, on top of said substantially flat top surfacealong said edges of said substantially flat top surface.
 6. The ToolRetaining Work Station of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuousmagnetic barrier comprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in aspaced-apart relationship, on top of said substantially flat top surfacealong at least one edge of said substantially flat top surface; and aplurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apart relationship, positionedalong at least one edge of said substantially flat top surface and on aside of said substantially flat top surface juxtaposed to the top ofsaid substantially flat top surface.
 7. The Work Tool Retaining WorkStation of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuous magneticbarrier comprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apartrelationship, on top of said substantially flat top surface along saidedges of said substantially flat top surface; and a plurality ofmagnets, aligned in a spaced-apart relationship, positioned along saidedges of said substantially flat top surface and on a side of saidsubstantially flat top surface juxtaposed to the top of saidsubstantially flat top surface.
 8. The Tool Retaining Work Station ofclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of legs attached to a bottomsurface of said work surface for supporting said work surface apredetermined distance above a floor on which said Tool Retaining WorkStation is placed.
 9. The Tool Retaining Work Station of claim 8 whereinsaid plurality of legs is adjustable to enable varying saidpredetermined distance.
 10. The Tool Retaining Work Station of claim 1wherein said substantially continuous magnetic barrier is adhesivelyattached to said top surface of said work surface.
 11. The ToolRetaining Work Station of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuousmagnetic barrier is a permanent magnet.
 12. The Tool Retaining WorkStation of claim 1 wherein said substantially continuous magneticbarrier is an electromagnet.
 13. A Tool Retaining Work Stationcomprising: a work surface, having a substantially flat and unobstructedtop surface thereof to support an object on the top surface during awork process being performed by a user using tools on the object whichwork process takes place on the object which is positioned on the topsurface, the top surface being devoid of any attached structures; and asubstantially continuous magnetic barrier formed exclusively along theperiphery of the work surface to prevent at least one of the tools thatis not presently in use by the user from being knocked off the topsurface, comprising at least one magnet fixedly attached to said worksurface at a location comprising at least one of: on top of saidsubstantially flat and unobstructed top surface and along an edge ofsaid substantially flat top surface, and on a side of said substantiallyflat and unobstructed top surface and juxtaposed to the top of saidsubstantially flat top surface.
 14. The Tool Retaining Work Station ofclaim 13 wherein said substantially continuous magnetic barriercomprises: a plurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apartrelationship, positioned along at least one edge of said substantiallyflat top surface.
 15. The Tool Retaining Work Station of claim 13wherein said substantially continuous magnetic barrier comprises: aplurality of magnets, aligned in a spaced-apart relationship, on top ofsaid substantially flat top surface along at least one edge of saidsubstantially flat top surface.
 16. The Tool Retaining Work Station ofclaim 13 wherein said work surface comprises: a plurality of legsattached to a bottom surface of said work surface for supporting saidwork surface a predetermined distance above a floor on which said ToolRetaining Work Station is placed.